Israeli students say no to army

Around 60 Israeli high school students have said they will refuse to serve as soldiers in the Palestinian territories, because to do so would be to carry out racist policies.

The French news agency reports that the students have written an open letter to the Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, criticising what they said were the aggressive policies pursued by the government and army.

The letter listed land expropriation, demolition of houses, torture and executions without trial, as crimes against the Palestinians.

The students said they would refuse to take part in such acts.

Young Israelis are conscripted into the army from the age of 18.

A pacifist organisation says 22 soldiers have been jailed for refusing to serve in Palestinian territories since the current uprising began eleven months ago.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service